Role of special advisers
Special advisers are selected based on their expertise and qualifications. There are two types:
Non-institutional special advisers provide direct assistance to the President, the Vice-Presidents and the Commissioners of the European Commission.
Institutional special advisers assist institutional bodies of the Commission.
General information on aspects of remuneration/days of work
Special Advisers work on a short-term basis for a very limited number of days per year (on average around 25) and these days may be remunerated or not. The amount of the fees per day of service is in principle set at three separate levels: 1/22 of the basic salary of an official on the first step in grade AD9, AD10 or AD12.
Appointing special advisers
Each special adviser must sign a document declaring that there is no conflict of interest between their duties as adviser to the European Commission and their other activities.
Special Advisers - Privacy Statement
List of designated Special Advisers: Past
Special Advisers to the President and Commissioners of the European Commission - exercise 2025
Special Advisers to the President and Commissioners of the European Commission - Exercice 2024 - 1/4/2024-until end of College VDLI (unless otherwise stated)
Special Advisers to the President and Commissioners of the European Commission - Exercice 2023
Special Advisers to the President and Commissioners of the European Commission - Exercice 2022
Special Advisers to the President and Commissioners of the European Commission - Exercice 2021
Special Advisers to the President and Commissioners of the European Commission - Exercice 2020 (1/04/2020-31/03/2021 - unless otherwise stated) : Curriculum vitae and Declaration of honour
List of designated Special Advisers: Current
Special advisers - exercise 2026
| Special Advisers Type | Cabinet | Name | Purpose of appointment | Contract Start Date | Contract End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non Institutional | 01. VON DER LEYEN | Joost KORTE | Special Envoy for the EU-Canada partnership | 16/01/2026 | 15/12/2026 |
| 01. VON DER LEYEN | Jörg M. FEGERT | Co-Chair the Special Panel advising the President on child safety online and potential age restrictions for social media | 27/02/2026 | 31/07/2026 | |
| 01. VON DER LEYEN | Maria MELCHIOR | Co-Chair the Special Panel advising the President on child safety online and potential age restrictions for social media | 02/03/2026 | 31/07/2026 | |
| 02. RIBERA | Anne-Sophie CERISOLA | To advise on the mapping exercise of positions of key national and international stakeholders active in the area of clean, competitive and just transition, and on strategic engagement with such stakeholders so as to leverage synergies with the competition policy | 29/04/2026 | 31/03/2027 | |
| 03. VIRKKUNEN | Ms Anu BRADFORD | To provide advice and knowledge in the field of global digital markets, digital regulation and innovation, geopolitics of AI, and the role of digital defence | 29/04/2026 | 31/03/2027 | |
| 06. MINZATU | Ylva JOHANSSON | Chair of the High-Level Board on Skills, whose objective is to provide independent advice and comprehensive insights on skills to the EU policy makers, under the leadership of the Executive Vice-President Mînzatu | 02/03/2026 | 01/03/2028 | |
| 11. VÁRHELYI | Miklós SZÓCSKA | To advise the Commissioner on data-driven health innovation, the transformative impact of artificial intelligence and disruptive technologies in healthcare, and the global artificial intelligence and digital health landscape | 29/04/2026 | 31/03/2027 | |
| 13. KUBILIUS | Klaus WELLE | To advise on development of the European defence union and strengthening European defence capabilities | 01/04/2026 | 31/03/2027 | |
| 13. KUBILIUS | Manuel HEITOR | To advise the Commissioner on European Space Policy and accelerating the use of space for security and defence in the context of defence readiness 2030. In particular, on creating a European posture for the Space Shield flagship | 01/04/2026 | 31/03/2027 | |
| 16. KADIS | Karmenu VELLA | To advise the Commissioner on Fisheries, including the external dimension, as well as in a wide context the vision for the fisheries sector with a 2040 perspective | 01/04/2026 | 31/03/2027 | |
| 17. ALBUQUERQUE | David O'SULLIVAN | Special Envoy for EU Sanctions (ESE) | 06/02/2026 | 05/02/2027 | |
| 17. ALBUQUERQUE | Jose Manuel CAMPA | To advise the Commissioner on the competitiveness of the banking sector | 30/03/2026 | 29/03/2027 | |
| 18. LAHBIB | Gleider Ignacio HERNANDEZ | To advise on how to improve and protect the delivery of humanitarian aid in fragile contexts in accordance with international humanitarian law | 29/04/2026 | 31/03/2027 | |
| 19. BRUNNER | Ms Mairead MCGUINNESS | Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) outside the EU | 29/04/2026 | 31/03/2027 | |
| 21. SERAFIN | Catherine DAY | Chairperson of the High-Level Reflection Group on the Future of the European Commission’s Civil Service | 08/07/2025 | 31/12/2026 | |
| 21. SERAFIN | Jean-Claude JUNCKER | Former President of the European Commission | 01/12/2024 | 30/11/2026 | |
| 21. SERAFIN | Jan OLBRYCHT | To provide strategic advice and expertise on budgetary and financial matters, as well as contributing to policy discussions and initiatives related to the Multiannual Financial Framework | 01/04/2026 | 31/03/2027 | |
| 22. JØRGENSEN | Joanna PANDERA | To advise the Commissioner on energy policy notably on the decarbonisation of energy systems and challenges faced by energy systems and energy markets | 01/04/2026 | 31/03/2027 | |
| 22. JØRGENSEN | Bertrand PICCARD | To advise the Commissioner on energy-related tasks, with a particular focus on renewable energy and energy efficiency | 01/04/2026 | 31/03/2027 | |
| 24. MCGRATH | Félix KARTTE | To provide advice and expert knowledge to the Commissioner regarding the European Democracy Shield | 01/04/2026 | 31/03/2027 | |
| 24. MCGRATH | Thomas COURTNEY | To provide strategic and political advice and expert knowledge regarding the development of the 28e Regime | 01/04/2026 | 31/03/2027 | |
| 25. TZITZIKOSTAS | Lamia KAMAL CHAOUI | To advise the Commissioner on the development of the first EU Sustainable Tourism Strategy | 01/04/2026 | 31/03/2027 | |
| 27. MICALLEF | Marie-Louise COLEIRO PRECA | To provide expert advice - drawing on her experience - on EU policies safeguarding children’s interests, notably the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child and child participation | 01/04/2026 | 31/03/2027 | |
| Institutional | 09. DOMBROVSKIS | Pieter Frederick HASEKAMP | Chair of the European Fiscal Board | 01/04/2025 | 31/03/2027 |
| 09. DOMBROVSKIS | Eckhard JANEBA | Member of the European Fiscal Board | 01/04/2025 | 31/03/2027 | |
| 09. DOMBROVSKIS | Georges KOPITS | Member of the European Fiscal Board | 01/04/2025 | 31/03/2027 | |
| 09. DOMBROVSKIS | Benedicta MARZINOTTO | Member of the European Fiscal Board | 01/04/2025 | 31/03/2027 | |
| 09. DOMBROVSKIS | Lucía RODRIGUEZ MUNOZ | Member of the European Fiscal Board | 01/04/2025 | 31/03/2027 | |
| 21. SERAFIN | Julia LAFFRANQUE | Fulfilling the role of Controller of procedural guarantees in the context of investigations conducted by the European Anti-Fraud Office in accordance with Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 883/2013 | 13/09/2024 | 12/09/2026 | |
| 21. SERAFIN | Maria Isabel ROFES i PUJOL | High-level independent Chair of the Panel referred to in Article 145 of the Financial Regulation (Reg 2024/2509) | 17/11/2025 | 16/11/2026 | |
| 21. SERAFIN | Igors LUDBORŽS | High-level independent Vice-Chair of the Panel referred to in Article 145 of the Financial Regulation (Reg 2024/2509) | 17/11/2025 | 16/11/2026 | |
| 21. SERAFIN | Ms Françoise LE BAIL | Chairperson of the Disciplinary Board of the Commission | 01/04/2026 | 31/03/2027 | |
| 21. SERAFIN | Mr Raymond PORTELLI | External Member of the Audit Progress Committee | 01/04/2026 | 31/03/2027 | |
| 21. SERAFIN | Mr Jean FOSSION | External Member of the Audit Progress Committee | 01/04/2026 | 31/08/2026 | |
| 21. SERAFIN | Ms Iveta REINHOLDE | External Member of the Audit Progress Committee | 01/04/2026 | 31/03/2027 |